Why are emergencies overloaded in Montreal? The Quebec Health Response

The increase in the number of visits to Quebec emergencies in January between 2023 and 2024 is particularly felt in the Montreal region. This situation would notably be due to the fact that cases are more complex in the metropolis and that the aging of the population is more important, according to Health Quebec.

We note an increase of more than 600 visits per day to the entire level of entire Quebec compared to the same period last yearsaid Véronique Wilson, Deputy Director General for Network Coordination and Operations Support at Santé Québec.

During the Weekly Health Quebec Hebdial Press Point on the emergency situation on Friday, Ms. Wilson said that for the Montreal region only, there are 200 additional visits per day to the emergency room compared to the same period last year.

Between January 7 and 20, we see that the increase in daily visits to emergencies is more marked in Montreal, 9.2 % for a year, and In the 450, it’s almost 7 %.

This increase in visits can be explained in particular by the needs and complexity of Montreal customers. Users who present themselves in the emergency are often more sick, older and they have more complex needssaid Ms. Wilson.

These users are therefore more often lying on a stretcher and require that we take time to care for them, which increases the occupancy rate on stretchershe explained.

Véronique Wilson also argued that specialized hospitals, including the CHUMthe Cusmthe Jewish General Hospital, the Hospital of the Sacred-Coeur-de-Montréal and the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, serve a clientele that lives outside the metropolis. Exterior patients sometimes exceed 30 % of the customers in these hospitals.

Friday afternoon, the occupancy rate in Montreal emergencies amounted to 145 %, compared to a provincial average of 121 %.

The objective is to temporarily increase the number of beds available in an installation, out of an emergency. This helps balance the pressure on the floors and the emergency.

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We know very well that the increase in beds on the units does not alone solve hospital congestion and that it should be a temporary solution. This is why hospital centers are currently making great efforts to improve hospital fluidityadded Ms. Wilson.

Strong propagation of flu

The National Director of Public Health, Dr. Luc Boileau, expressed a drop in the number of cases of COVID-19 and the syncytial respiratory virus (VRS) in the province. However, influenza cases are increasing. Until mid-February, the curve should continue to grow.

It must therefore be anticipated that there will be consequences for people and hospitalizations. There are often between 6000 and 7000 per year, hospitalizations, and even around 300 to 400 people who go to intensive care. Unfortunately, we also have deathshe mentioned in a press point.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from influenza complications and Dr. Boileau recalled that it is always time to be vaccinated since the peak of the flu season has not yet been reached.

Until now, 1.7 million Quebecers have been vaccinated against flu. Which is very goodsaid Dr. Boileau. However, he encourages those who do not have their dose to protect themselves before the culmination of the circulation of the influenza virus.

Dr. Boileau indicated that the vaccination rate in 65 years and over is a little at 60 % in the province, the target being 70 %. In CHSLD And private elder residences, the target of public health has been reached. When we reach 60 % we are satisfied, we are happy at 70 %he says.

On the other hand, Dr. Boileau was delighted that the measles epidemic which declared itself in December is contained at the moment. On January 21, 13 cases were confirmed in the Laurentians, Montreal and Laval. He calls families who are not vaccinated against measles, especially children, to make an appointment to receive the vaccine.